Xiao Ni never needed anyone’s protection anyway!
It was undoubtedly a very straight male reply.
When a girl sends such a message, she probably wants some comfort, right?
Xie Qian was so clever that he naturally knew how to reply to others’ messages and could guess what answer they wanted to hear. Just like back then, when Zhang Nan made a birthday wish for Xie Qian to personally serve her a bowl of soup, and everyone was egging them on, Xie Qian, in his straight male fashion, told her that wishes spoken aloud would not come true. Zhang Nan’s expression was utterly crestfallen… Of course Xie Qian knew more tactful ways to refuse!
But being tactful would mean trouble, so it was better to reject Zhang Nan outright and nip any future issues in the bud.
Logically, Xie Qian knew he should reply to Wen Ying directly now, to encourage her to “mind her own business” in future and focus her energy on more important matters.
Emotionally, Xie Qian could not bear to do so.
Sigh, that was just how the hamster was: she cared deeply about her friends!
Treating Xiao Ni as a friend and knowing that Zheng Zhihe had a troublesome first-love girlfriend, the hamster would worry.
People’s natures were hard to change; that was Wen Ying’s character. How could she alter it?
Xie Qian pondered his words carefully before replying: “Editor Ni might not need your protection, but knowing you wanted to protect her would make her very happy. You two are true friends.”
Was that too indulgent towards the hamster?
The message had already been sent and could not be retracted. Xie Qian thought for a moment and followed up with another: “Anyway, let us talk business. What did Editor Ni say about your new book’s opening?”
“Xiao Ni said it was good. Song Foxiang and Editor Wan both read it, and they suggested I serialise it first!”
Wen Ying replied quickly. Xie Qian read the content and smiled.
Fine, whether she meddled or not did not matter; at least she was handling proper business well!
On Saturday, Wen Ying went to Xie Qian’s house for her usual tutoring as normal. Lately, Xie Qian had been giving Wang Shuang intensive pre-exam cramming, so he was a bit laxer in supervising Wen Ying and Li Mengjiao. It would be best if Wen Ying could crack the top 100 in the year for finals, but if not, she could just do extra worksheets over the summer holidays.
Wang Shuang was different; she was about to sit her Gaokao!
“It is no longer suitable to tackle challenging problems at this stage. If you do not master them, a slight variation in question type during the Gaokao could trip you up. The closer the exam, the more you should consolidate your foundations and adjust your mindset to face it calmly.”
Wang Shuang listened to everything Xie Qian said. Although Xie Qian was in his second year and Wang Shuang in her third, ever since Xie Qian transferred to Rongcheng Provincial Key School, he had topped the year in every exam. His words were like imperial edicts to her.
“I know: secure the marks I can get first!”
She needed to adjust her mindset, not get anxious, but stay steady.
After studying so diligently for so long, the Gaokao was the time to test those results. Wang Shuang knew she still lagged behind the school’s top students and might always do so. So what?
Today’s self was already far stronger than her former self, by leaps and bounds!
The closer the Gaokao countdown, the less anxious Wang Shuang felt, and the more confident she grew.
Wang Shuang’s confidence came from Xie Qian’s approval.
Teacher Xie did not belittle failing students on the eve of exams.
It also came from the even worse slacker, Peng Guoqing.
Thinking of how Peng Guoqing had given up on this year’s Gaokao and decided to repeat, Wang Shuang felt utterly delighted!
He had been so close, really just a bit off. If Wang Shuang had matured later, she would be the current Peng the Green Fur!
Spending the family’s money to gild himself abroad was one path, far simpler than grinding through problems and worksheets. But on second thought, it was rather pointless. Peng the Green Fur’s family was not short of money either, yet here he was, obediently starting from the basics!
Thinking of Peng the Green Fur’s misery, Wang Shuang chuckled aloud, her pen tapping merrily.
Li Mengjiao looked horrified: she had only heard of people going mad for the Gaokao, never seen it. Now she had.
Too terrifying!
Who could believe that a slacker like Wang Shuang would actually be driven mad by the Gaokao?
Li Mengjiao was frightened and subtly shifted her bottom further from Wang Shuang. She too began to work seriously on her problems. If she did not study hard in second year, she would regret it in third. She did not want to become another Wang Shuang!
Seeing the two slackers so focused, Xie Qian sent Wen Ying a text: “Come out for a moment. I am waiting in the front courtyard.”
Xie Qian rose and left first. Wen Ying followed two minutes later.
Xie Qian stood waiting under the wisteria in the front courtyard.
The wisteria’s blooming season was early May, now at its tail end. Purple petals blanketed the ground. Before her business trip, Zou Weijun had said the scene was elegantly poetic and instructed the housekeeper, Sister Liu, not to sweep. Xie Qian stood there, petals carpeting his feet beneath, the view and the man both breathtakingly beautiful. It left Wen Ying entranced.
Wen Ying held her breath and tiptoed closer, fearing any noise would shatter the serene beauty.
Xie Qian had already heard and turned. “What are you sneaking about for? It is broad daylight, and you act like a thief.”
Wen Ying choked, retorting instinctively: “You are the one who called me out alone. I do not know what matter you have that cannot be said in front of Mengjiao and the others!”
Hmph.
Even if it was thievery, it was not her being the thief; it was Xie Qian having thieving intentions!
The words “thieving intentions” made Wen Ying’s ears burn.
Ever since the airport in Xiang Province, when Xie Qian had held her hand to dodge the paparazzi, her feelings towards him had turned strange.
Xie Qian had explained the reason afterwards, and Wen Ying believed one hundred percent that he would not lie. So the strangeness was only in her?
This was no good sign.
It was a fan fantasising about her idol, an old cow coveting tender grass, shameful thoughts…
“I called you out, of course, because I have something for you.”
Xie Qian interrupted Wen Ying’s reverie. “Here.”
What he gave Wen Ying was utterly unexpected: a five-pointed star folded from a sticky note. Coincidentally, the note was pink.
“This…”
Wen Ying had just quelled her restless emotions when Xie Qian’s action reignited them!
A small flame sparked from her ear roots, splitting into two paths: one climbing upwards to scorch her cheeks, the other plunging downwards to burn her heart, leaving her too afraid to meet Xie Qian’s eyes.
“Collect five stars to make a wish. This is the second one.”
Xie Qian felt a bit awkward too.
The sticky notes in the study had run out, and Sister Liu had restocked them. Somehow, they were all pink, leaving him no choice when folding the star!
It was a wishing star.
Wen Ying’s cheeks cooled a touch.
Xie Qian was not giving her a folded paper star for the first time. Previously, when Yuan Fenghui had invited Wen Ying for a role, she had soberly refused, and Xie Qian had given her the first one.
Five stars for one wish.
It was Xie Qian’s way of motivating her to improve.
“But what is it for this time?”
Wen Ying was puzzled.
“To congratulate you on your new book receiving approval from professionals.”
Oh, so besides rewards, it could also convey congratulations.
Xie Qian was truly like coaxing a kindergarten child!
Wen Ying grumbled inwardly, but it did not dampen her radiant smile.
Xie Qian placed the folded paper star in Wen Ying’s hand. A breeze blew, and wisteria petals fluttered down onto her shoulders and hair tips. It felt as if something had also fallen onto Xie Qian’s heart.
Xie Qian hesitated briefly, then reached out to brush the petals from Wen Ying’s shoulder.
He heard his heartbeat thundering like a drum.
